Yarn bombing, yarnbombing, yarn storming, guerrilla knitting, kniffiti, urban knitting or graffiti knitting is a type of graffiti or street art that employs colourful displays of knitted or crocheted yarn or fibre rather than paint or chalk.

while yarn installations – called yarn bombs or yarnstorms may last for years, they are considered non-permanent, and, unlike other forms of graffiti, can be easily removed if necessary.

the practice is still technically illegal in some jurisdictions, though it is not often prosecuted vigorously.

while other forms of graffiti may be expressive, decorative, territorial, socio-political commentary, advertising or vandalism, yarn bombing was initially almost exclusively about reclaiming and personalizing sterile or cold public places.

yarn bombing has developed with groups graffiti knitting and crocheting worldwide, each with their own agendas and public graffiti knitting projects being run.

Statue of Rocky, Philadelphia Museum of Art; Yarnbombed by IshknitsPhoto by Conrad Benner of Streetsdept.com In an interview she revealed that it’s her way of getting people to go see the art inside the museum because most people just pose in front of the statue and then leave

“Ishknits, or Jessie Hemmons, is a yarnbomber who recently moved to Oakland, CA from Philadelphia, PA. Her work concentrates on facilitating a shift in the perception of street art, by using a typically feminine craft to initiate a dialogue on the relationship between gender and non-commissioned public art. Through her use of vibrant colors and an historically emphatic medium, she encourages people to understand and utilize the ability they possess to be assertive as well as positive in their community.” See more

How she got into knitting: “Hemmons learned to crochet as a teen. A rough childhood led her to a juvenile detention facility where she had difficulty fitting in. Eventually, she found crochet hooks and, through some relentless begging, got other girls to teach her the craft.

She explains how this experience became an Oh-I-see moment for her, learning that “knitting and crocheting can be used as a language; a way to connect with people when other methods aren’t as effective.”

Check out TIME images: “The Fine Art of Yarn Bombing”“Step aside graffiti artists. Yarn bombers take their craft to the streets, stitching cozies for everything from bike racks to entire buses…”See more